Suction cleaner



Feb, 29, 1944. w. D. SELLERS ET Al.

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 23., 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 29, 1944. W,D, SELLERS ET AL 2,343,227

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 25,1939 5 sheets-sheet 2 n NA o Il .u n N MJlwd/w William Sellers Alfred 6. Gross Feb. 29, 1944. w. D. SELLERS ETALsUcTIoN CLEANER File-d Aug. 2s, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 75 Illll y/ lFly/0 '4 Wi zzz'amsezzem Alfred 6'. Gross Feb 29, 1944- w. D.I SELLERSET'AL 2,343,227

s UcTIoN CLEANER Filed Aug. 25, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR WilliamSellers Alfred 6. Grasas ATTORNEY Feb. 29, 1944. W, D, SELLERS Er AL`2,343,227

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 25, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Se l [e1196. Gross William A fred 5.' @wa/f ATTORNEY vide a new and improvedsuction cleaner. another object of the invention .to'provide a newPatented Feb. 2.9, 1944 SUCTION CLEANER William D. Sellers, Glen Ellyn,and Alfred G. Gross, Wilmctte, Ill., assignors to The Hoover Company,North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Y Application August 23, 1939,Serial No. 291,518

(Cl. -*6i 25 Claims.

The present inventiony relates to suction cleaners in general and moreparticularly to an improved nozzle height adjusting means in a suctioncleaner. More specifically the invention comprises a suction cleaner inwhich the surface-contacting nozzle mouth and cleaner-v agitator areautomatically positioned in proper operating relationship to a surfaceor to a surface .covering undergoing cleaning under all conditions ofcleaner operation.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- It is improved nozzleheight adjusting meansin a s suction cleaner. Another object oftheinvention is to provide anew and improved agitatorpositioningmeans in'asuction cleaner. A still further object of the invention is to provide asuction cleaner embodying automatic nozzle height andagitator-height-adjusting means to compensate for variations in surfacecoverings undergoing cleaning. A still further object of the inventionis to provide a feeler-controlled nozzle height adjustment whichautomatically positions the cleaner nozzle in the proper operatingrelationship to a covering undergoing cleaning. A further object of theinvention is to provide a suction-operated -automatic nozzle heightadjustment in which a surface-contacting reeler controls the nozzleposition. Still another object of the invention is to provide'a suctioncleaner in which a floating sub-nozzle is automatically positioned-.tothe proper 'relationship to a surface covering undergoing cleaning bymeans including a surface position ieeler. A still further object of theinvention is to provide a sub-nozzle including surface-contacting lipsand a driven agitator which is automatically positioned relative to asurface covering undergoing cleaning to the optimum position by meanscontrolled by a surface-contacting feler or gauge. Still another objectof the/invention is toprovide an automatic nozzle height adjust mentwhich is feeler-operated and which/includes electrical means to vary thenozzle height. These and other more speciiic objects will appear uponreading the following specication and claims and upon cnsidering inconnection theref with the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring rnow to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are disclosed, and in which the same referencecharacter refers to the same part throughout:

Figure 1 is a side view of asuction cleaner' embodying the presentinvention with certain parts broken away and shown in section in theinoperative relationship and upon abare floor:

Figure 2 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner illustrated in Figure1;

Figure 3 is an enlargedA view-of the suctionoperated bellows of the airmotor;

Figure 4 is a viewlsir'nilar to Figure l but illustrates the cleanerpositioned upon a bare door in operation;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with a cleaner positionedupon a surface covering and inY operation;

Figure 6 is a section upon the line B-S of Figure 4 and illustrates thenozzle-lifting bellows and its connection to the ambulatorybody-supporting chassis;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the feeler-controlled valvewhich connects the lower chamber of the air motor to atmosphere; y

Figure 8 is a section upon the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a cleaner constructed in accordance withthe second preferred embodiment of the invention and in which asub-nozzle construction is movably mounted relative to the remainder ofthe cleaner body# and is automatically positioned by a feeler-controlledmechanism as in the first embodiment;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the cleaner illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view of the cleaner constructed in accordance with thesecond embodiment oi the invention in operation upon a bare floor;

Figure 12 is a front view of the cleaner nozzle of the second embodimentof the invention with aportion of the front wall broken away to show thesub-nozzle positioned therein; 1

Figure 13 is a partial side elevation of a s uction cleaner embodying athird preferred `em.

bodiment oi the invention, with certain parts broken away and shown insection, the cleaner being positioned upon a bare floor and in theinoperative relationship;

Figure 14 is a bottom view of the cleaner constructed in accordance withthe third embodiment o! the invention:

Figure 15 is a transverse cross section through the feeler-controlledswitch of the lthird ern-- bodiment;

Figure 16 is a section through the cut-out switch mounted upon the camshaft;

Figure 1'? is a diagrammatic disclosure of the electrical circuit of thecleaner of the third embodiment, theparts being related as in Figures 13Yand 15.

linherent weakness embodied the inherent 2 aplacar i V suction cleanersprovided with manually-opported by front and rear wheels 2 and 3.respecerable nozzle height adjusting means have been tively. y'I'hecleaner handle l is pivotally conm'ade and sold for many years. vTheyhave' the nected directly tothe chassisi.

that when the operator.. after setting the machineproperly for a surfacecovering of one type, later moves the machine onto a covering of adfherenttypehe frequently fails to reset the adjusment. The result isthat the cleaner is improperly positioned i'or-v operation upon' thissecond coveringwand inemcient operamore recent development. has been theautomatic .nozzlel height..v adiusiznieiit.,

adjustmentsjl'however., ,y ,Y

wfshaftgliextends;

tionv results. A

These. prior automatic v v weakness that vthead- Justment of thecleanerl,supporting means".wa"s

dependent upon 4the '-lengthj of; the` 'pile fand stiffness. Noaccountlwas-taken by such adilusty' ments of the variationsin` densitylortightness of weave of the rugjback, n or yoifthe stiffnessof e rug.These latter elementsare just asimrtant as any present'in determining'the :response of the surface coveringun'der'going cleaning to thenozzle suction.rv l.Also Ait has `been imf' possible to ,accommodate allthese' factors 'per-y-- fectly for they vary indiscriminatelyv indifferent if coverings. While the automatic adjustment v meansmight bedesigned yto be accurate in .positioning thenozzle at the proper heightrelative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning where that coveringhad one y pile height, one pile -thickness and one back weave, the.variation of one of those factors, `su'ch as the tightness of weave ofthe rug `baci-r or the stillness thereof might render the adjustmentmeans unsatisfactory.

In the automatic nozzle height adjustment means constructed inaccordance with the present invention the adjustment of the nozzle andof the cleaner agitator is made so as to be entirely independent of theweight of the cleaner. the stiffness ofthe surface covering pile, thedensity thereof, or the tightness of weave or stiffness of the rug back.The only condition which controls the operation of the nozzleheightadjustment constructed in accordance with the present invention is therelationship of the covering undergoing cleaning to thesurface-contacting portion of the nozzle and the agitator. Ii therelationship is the optimum no adjustment takes place. If it is anyother relationship adjustment automatically follows and continues untilthe optimum relationship is established. This result is obtained by theprovision of a feeler which is adapted to contact the supporting surfacebelow the cleaner nozzle and below the cleaner agitator. 'Ihis feelermember has one optimum position which corresponds to the optimum nozzleand agitator height adjustment. If properly positioned the surfacecovering undergoing cleaning will hold this feeler member at its optimumposition and no adjustment takes place. If the relationship of thenozzle and agitator relative to the surface covering varies so that thefeeler moves from its optimum position, it rides at all times upon thesupporting surface in the cleaner operation, automatic adjustmentinstantly i'ollows and the height position of the nozzle and agitator ischanged until the feeler is again moved by the. coveringundergoingcleaning to its optimum position. I

Referring again to the drawings and to Figures 1 to 8, inclusive. asuction cleaner embodying the rst'preferred embodiment of the Ainventionis illustrated. The cleaner is seen to include an ambulatory U-shapedchassis I which is sup-y I'he cl'caner'body includes anozzle l having Isume-contacting front and rear lips 'I and I, respectively.- a fan'chamber! to the eye Il of which the'j nozzle `lis interiorly connectedby apassageway Il', and an exhaust outlet i2 of the' lian chamber whichvis provided with bag-selilcuring manually Aoperable means I3. A motor fenclosesjan unshown driving motor, l1 anrljajis positioned vinnnediai'ely above the fan l. ham r1 Q andfexhaust' outlet I2. The motorl y .l downwardly through the fan g-'chamber where it .carries thesuction-creating y. l iran' ifl andfis'i'formedY at its lower end withinthe air passageway? il as a driving pulley. 'Ihe body also includesappearance skirts il which extend rearwardly i'rom'the ends of thenozzle I to conzoceal partially the supporting chassis l and thesupporting wheels 2 and 3. l f The cleaner body'is pivotally supportedupon the ambulatory chassis i by a pivotal connection il immediatelyforward pf the rear supporting z5 wheels 3. About this pivot point thecleaner body. together:with the filtering bag 2l, pivots to raise andlower nozzle 3 relative to the chassis, there being supporting springs22 between the arms of the chassis i andthe overlying skirts I 4 which80 carry the weight of the cleaner body forwardly o f the pivotalconnection. Each of these springs encircles a post 23 which extendsdownwardly from the cleaner body skirt l 4 and which is adaptedy to abutthe chassis. as illustrated in Figure 4. 85 with the cleaner nozzle inits lowermost position. A restraining bolt 2l passes through an aperture2l in each arm of the chassis and into the bottom of depending post 23with its headed end spaced therefrom to provide a lower stop todetermine, with the end of post 23, the possible angular movement of thecleaner body relative to the chassis.

Positioned within the nozzle casing 8 is an inner nozzle casing 21 thetop and front walls of which are spaced from the casing i to provide aspace therebetween. fact opens directly into this inner nozzle"casing 21and the top. integral therewith as is the frontlnozzle lip 1. The rearlip 8 is formed integrallyy with the removable bottom plate 28 oi' thepassageway il.

Rotatably ing 21 is a rotatable agitator 30 which is formed with acylindrical body upon which are provided elongated helically extendedrigid beater elements 3| and axially extending Ilexible brush elements32. A pivoted latch member 33 at each end of the agitator removablyretains it within the nozzle and a power-transmitting belt 34 connectsit to the lower end of the motor drive shaft. y

Within the space between the outer nozzle casing 8 and the inner nozzlecasing 21, and in front of the fan chamber 9, is positioned an air motorwhich provides the power by which the nozzle end of the cleaner israised and lowered. This air motor is indicated generally by thereference character 3 5and isseen to comprise a V-shaped bellowsconstruction having rigidly mounted top wall 3l and a rigidly mountedbottom wall 31 which extends the length of the nozzle. An intermediatemovable piston wall or plate 38 is pivoted at 39 at the angle of the V,there being enclosing, collapsible, flexible air-impervious seals 40joining the peripheral edges of the walls 38, 37 and 38. 'I'hese sealmembers 40 are accordion- The air passageway il inl bottom and sidewallsaregformed" mounted within the inner nozzle caslike. as is clearlyillustrated in Figures 1 and 4, so that the intermediate plate 88 ispermitted a range of angular movement between the top and bottom wallsof the bellows.

At the ends of the air motor the plate 38 is provided with projectingshoulders 4I to each of which pivotally connects a pivoted arm 42 thelower end of which is pivotally connected to the ambulatory chassis I.The relationship is such that the tilting angular movement of thecleaner body relative to the chassis is accompanied by the pivotalmovement of the plate or piston 38 of the air motor, that member beinggiven a range of movement adequate to accommodate the permitted angularpivotal movement of the cleaner body.

The upper and lower chambers formed in the air motor upon the oppositesides of the plate or piston 38 are internally connected by conduits 44and 45 to the interior of the fan chamber immediately inside oi' the eyeI8 thereof, and at a point which is in substantial alignment with theeye of the fan chamber and the point of cut-oi! thereof which isindicated at 48. It has been found that when so located suction is alfways present in the pipes 44 and 45 and accordingly within the chambersof the air motorin all operating relationships of the cleaner whichincludes operation in which the cleaner nozzle is sealed to a surfacecovering undergoing cleaning and also operation in which the nozzle isentirely unsealed and the flow of air through the cleaner isunrestricted. The suction available to the motor chambers by thesuction-creating means of the cleaner is the same.

A feeler member 48 is pivotally mounted at 49 and extends rearwardlybetween the nozzle lips 1 and l and below the rotary agitator 3l. Thiselement is positioned below the portion of reduced diameter of theagitator which serves as the pulley to seat the driving belt 34 and ismovable upwardly to a point within the confines of the circle describedby the surface-contacting beating elements 3l. Forwardly of its pivotpoint the surface-contacting feeler 48 is pivotally connected to avertically extending rod 50' which carries a fixed abutment shoulder 5Iwhich is at all times urged upwardly by a helical coll spring 52 thelower end of which seats upon an L-shaped seat 53 mounted upon theforward wall of the interior nozzle casing 21. The force exerted by thespring 52 at all times urges the feeler 48 downwardly and with apredetermined force. Upward movement of the feeler 48 to` ward theagitator is accomplished only by the contact therewith of an underlyingsurface undergolng cleaning, as illustrated in Figure 5. The lowermostposition of the feeler is determined by the abutment of the forward endthereof with the forward face of the front wall of inner nozzie 21,asindicated at 41 in Figure 4, and in this position the feeler justcontacts a bare supporting surface.

To the lower motor chamber is interiorly connected, by an air passageway55, a valve cham- `ber 56 which is open to atmosphere at its one end byan aperture 51 and which has its opposite end closed by a counterboredscrew plug 58. Extended into the valve chamber 56 through the open end51 thereof and seated in screw threaded relationship therewith is acylindrical valve chamber wall 60 which is formed with elongated axiallyextending ports 6I which open into the space between the wall 68 and thesurroundchamber wall Il is a rotatable valve t2 which is provided withair seals 83 at its opposite ends in the form of enclosing gaskets andalso with longitudinally extending ports 84 which are similar in sizeand shape to the ports 6I in the en-` closing valve chamber wall 60. Thestem of valve 62 extends through the counterbored chamber-closing plug58, there being a sealing gasket therearound indicated at 58 which iscompressed by the stem-enclosing nut 61. The outer end of the valve stemnon-rotatably carries the valve arm 68, which is itself pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the plunger rod 50. It is clear that thepivotal movement of the feeler 48 resulting in the vertical displacementof the plunger rod will cause the angular rotary movement of the valvearm 68 and will result in the rotation of the valve 62 within itsenclosing chamber wall 60.

The function of the surface covering feeler 4|-, the air motor 35 andthe connections between the air motor and the chassis is to provideautomatically the proper adjustment of the nozzle and agitator relativeto a surface undergoing cleaning. If that surface is a iioor coveringelcient cleaning demands that `it be lifted from the supporting surfaceby the nozzle suction into contact with the nozzle lips and the rotaryagitator in the Gil -pressure of the upper chamber.

manner illustrated in Figure 5. If a bare floor isbeing cleaned, it isdesirable that the nozzle be lowered until the lips closely approach theiloor and the agitator brush elements 32 extend into contact therewithin the manner illustrated in Figure 4, the beater elements having asmaller radial extension will not contact the bare floor. Ihemanner inwhich 'the supporting surface feeler 48 and the air motor cooperateproperly to position the nozzle and agitator will now be described.

Let it be assumed that the cleaner is positioned upon a bare floor withthe motor turned of! and the cleaner inoperative, as illustrated inFigure l. Upon the energization of the cleaner motor, which isaccomplished by the operator turning on the usual cleaner switch of anyordinary type and which is not shown in the drawings, the motor beginsto rotate and the shaft I8 drives the suction-creating fan I1.Immediately there results a flow o! air into the cleaner nozzle as aresult of the suction created by the fan I1. This suction is effectiveat the point of connection interiorly of the fan chamber of the conduits44 and 45 and immediately air is drawn from both chambers of the airmotor into the fan chamber. The upper motor chamber is sealed to theexterior and air is exhausted therefrom immediately creating asub-atmospheric pressure. With the cleaner positioned as shown in Figure1 the feeler is in its lowermost position and below its optimumposition, being forced downwardly by the spring 52. The valve 62 is in awide open relationship to permit the pressure in the lower motor chamberto approach atmospheric and to exceed greatly the sub-atmospheric Thisdifference of pressure acting upon the two sides of the plate 88 forcesthat element upwardly within the mo- .l

ing chamber 56. Rotatably mounted within the mains upon a bare floor.-When the motor is turned olf and the suction dissipates, the springs 22will again raise the forward end of the cleaner to the positionillustrated in Figure 1.

When the machine is so adjusted upon a bare floor as just described thenozzle lips 'l and 8 are positioned closely adjacent the surface and theagitator 30 is brought suiliciently close there` to that the flexiblebrush elements 32, which have a greater radial extension than the rigidbeater elements 3|, are able to contact and sweep that floor. Foreignmaterial positioned thereon is dislodged by the brushes and is swept upinto the air passageway and conveyed by the fan to the ltering bag 28attached at the rear of the machine.

Let it be supposed that the machine is pushed from the bare floor, andin the adjustment just described, onto a ysuri'ace covered by a carpetor rug, as illustrated in Figure 5. The sink ,of the supporting wheelsinto the pile of the covering and the resultant contact of the coveringwith the feeler 48 will cause that element to be pivoted upwardly intothe nozzle against the resisting force of coil spring 52. This angularmovement of the feeler results in the angular movement of the valve arm68 with the attendant rotation oi' valve 62 which moves its ports 84partially out of alignment with the chamber ports 8| thereby cuttingdown the flow of atmospheric air into the valve chamber and so into thelower motor chamber. Immediately a f pressure drop is effected thereinas less atmospheric air is available and as the same suction is alwaysprovided by the suction-creating fan. The pressure in the lower motorchamber being reduced, the body-supporting coil springs 22 are able toforce the forward end ofthe cleaner body upwardly. This adjustmentcontinues until the feeler element 48 assumes its optimum position whichit does when the covering is lifted into optimum relationship withnozzle and agitator. At that time the flow of air into the lower motorchamber through the valve 62 provides a differential pressure across theplate or piston 38 which is just sufllcient to counterbalance thelifting effect of the coil spring 22. A state of equilibrium will existand the surface covering will be properly positioned relative to thenozzle y lips and to the agitator for it is the surface covering whichpositions the feeler 48.

If the machine is positioned while inoperative upon a surface coveringthen the operation is substantially that described in connection withthe bare floor, except that the nozzle moves vdownwardly into contactwith the surface covering to make the necessary contact of the feelermember therewith and thereafter the lifting operation just describedtakes place.

The construction has the advantage that no manual attention is necessaryand the machine automatically repositionsI itself upon variation insurface coverings. Y

Referring now to Figures 9 to l2, inclusive, the second preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment differsprimarily from that first described in that the ambulatory chassis I ofthe first embodiment has been eliminated and instead the supportingwheels 2 and 8 are mounted directly to the cleaner body and no relativevertical movement takes place therebetween. There is again provided thepivoted handle 4, the outer nozzle casing 6, the front and rearsurface-contacting lips 1 and 8, the fan chamber 9 having its eye I0 andformed with an exhaust outlet I2 to which the bag 24 is removablysecured by manually operable nuts Il.

As distinguished from the first embodiment the inner nozzle casing orsub-nozzle 21, which includes the air passageway I I and thesurface-contacting lips 1 and 8, is pivotaliy mounted at the rear of thefan chamber by a bracket 15 upon av pivotal connecting pin 16 carried bythe supporting bracket 18 of the rear wheels 3. As in the firstembodiment the air passageway II is closed by a removable bottom plate28 which also is pivoted with and forms a part of the subnozzleconstruction. The upper wall of the air passageway II immediately belowand adjacent the eye I 0 of the fan chamber 8 is formed with a circularopening 19 which is resiliently connected to the eye III by a flexible,collapsible conduit 80 of material such as rubber. The entire sub-nozzleconstruction 21fand the rotatable agitator 30 carried thereby areadapted to move up and down about the pivot point 1B and within the mainbody of the machine, the front lip 1 being provided with a verticalextension 82 which rides against the inner face of the forward wail 25of the outer nozzle casing 6 and is provided with a slot 83 whichcooperates with a pin 84 carried by that outer nozzle casing todetermine the limits of angular movement of the sub-nozzle. Coil springs86 at each end of the nozzle connect the rear face of the sub-nozzle 21to the underside of skirt I4 of the main nozzle casing and at all timesexert a lifting force thereon which normally lifts the sub-nozzle to itsuppermost position with the cleaner inoperative. Springs 86 havesuillcient force to lift the sub-nozzle together with a surface coveringundergoing cleaning which is suction-sealed thereto but is adapted to beovercome by the pressure differential existing within the air motorwhich is also present in this emo bodiment of the invention.

The air motor 35 in this second embodiment of the invention is againpositioned forwardly of the fan chamber 9 and between the inner nozzlecasing 21 and the outer nozzle casing 6 but in this .I instance ismounted directly upon the top of the former andlis movable therewith.The upper and lower chambers thereof are again connected by the conduits44 and 45, respectively, to that portion of the Interior of the fanchamber 9 adjacent the eye I0 thereof at which there is alwayssubstantially the -same suction available. The conduits 44 and 45 inthis embodiment should be suiliciently flexible to permit unhindered thevertical movement of the sub-nozzle with which they move at their.forward ends. The feeler 48 is pivotally mounted as before and is heremovable with the sub-nozzle construction. as is the valve chamber `56and the interconnecting parts which are the same as in thefirstembodiment.

50 The link 42 which connects to the movable piston or plate 38 in thepresent embodiment. however, connects directly to the underside of themain casting which includes the nozzle 6 and fan chamber 9 rather thanto the supporting chaso5 sis as in the first embodiment. As thesub-nozzle is adapted to rise and fall relative to the main casing ofthe machine, it is obvious that when so connected the arm 42 is capableof transmitting the force exerted upon the piston 38 to cause themovement of the sub-nozzle relative to the main casing.

The operation of the cleaner constructed in accordance with the secondembodiment of the invention greatly resembles the firsty embodiment.

T5 The feeler 48 is, as in the rst embodiment. adaptaccesar i ed tocontrol the flow of air into the lower rnclo, such action beingpermitted by the exible lo conduit 6b. ln 'Figure 1l the machine isillus-` trated in the operating position having been lowered to theextent permitted by the pintfl and slot @3. If the machine werepositioned upon a surface covering the sub-nozzle would be lowered untilthe ieeler element made contact therewith at which time the eelerelement would be pivoted upwardly, the valve t@ would be partiallyclosed, the pressure differential existing across equilibrium `wouldfinally be reached in which the lifted weight of the surface coveringundergoing cies in contact with the nozzle lips l and d combined withthe dir'erential pressure existing the plate do of the air motor wouldequal the lifting force exerted by the springs tit. The automaticadjustment feature of this second ernf-f--"1fent duplicates that of thefirst construction, the essential dierence being that in this case cnwthe surface-contacting portions ci the 39 nozzle and the agitator areadjusted vertically to obtain the proper cleaning action Whereas in thefirst embodiment the entire cleaner was moved relative to s, supportingchassis.

Referring now to Figures l2 to l?, inclusive', 35

the third preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. vThisembodiment closely resembles the rst described embodiment with theexception that the cir motor thereof has been replaced by an electricalmotor. A U-shaped arriC a@ bulatory chassis l is again moi/ablysupported by iront and rear Wheels il and respectively, and nivotallycarries the handle @l by which the cleaner is actuated.. The outernozzle casing 6 is formed in the same main casing with the fan chamberil to and again houses the sub-nozzle il in lxed relationship, theletter being interiorly connected by the air passageway li, includingthe removable bottom plate ille, to the eye l@ of the ian charnber il.im this embodinient'the sub-nozzle or iniii terior nozzle casing 2i' isnot movable reiative to the main casing including the ian chamber o andnoazle casing t. es in the second embodiment, but instead the entirecleaner body is bivotally connected at the pivot point i9, as in thefirst es embodiment, for pivotal movement relative to the chassis.

The pivoted cleaner body is supported at its n front end, in the mannero the first embodiment,

by coil springs 2i which entend between tiet body @g and the chassis i,there being a depending post 2li with its screw threaded and spaced bolt2li which limits the pivotal movement of the body relative to thechassis. ln the present embodiment the coil springs 22 at all times urgethe es cleaner nozzle upwardly relative to the chassis to an extentpermitted by the rotatable cams de positioned et each side or thenozzle. These bodycarrlcd cams are spring-pressed upwardly into Contactwith overlying abutment shoulders iii on the chassis l. To rotate thepositioning cam ed there is provided an electric motor e2 which issuitably mounted on the underside of the cleaner body below the slrirti5, and which is connected' tion.

sears indicated generally at The rotation of `the motor $2 in onedirection causes the cam to cated generally at ce. A leaf spring 99exerts a. force to move the feeler member downwardly and replaces thecoil spring used in the previous embodiments. The switch 98 is seen tocomprise an insulating casing idc which is seated upon the inner nozzlecasing El. andin which a sliding actuator lili operated by the lever arm91 is itself connected to andl ectuates the movable snap acthepistonllt? would be reduced until a state of 2@ tion contacts iili and H93which are movable between contacts lofi, ist and i, itl, respectively,as illustrated in Figures 15 and 17. The movable contacts itil and totare of the over center type and the movement of the actuator lill to theextreme right causes both contacts to assume the position illustrated inFigure 15. which is also illustrated diaerammatically in Figure 17.Movement oi the actuator lili to its midpoeition places movable contactsm2 andv its in contact lwith the central contacts it and litt, aposition which represents the motor-off condi- As can loe seen in Figurei7 stationary contacto ifi, lilla, iii@ and le? are divided into parts cand o which are adapted to be interconnected in each instance by themovable contacts. In Figure it the incoming conductors itil and lil@ areseen to connect directly to the armature ilo of the main cleaner motorand to its eld ill in series therewith, there being acurrent-controlline.' manually operable switch H2. The camactuatinrmotor e2 is seen to be connected in parallel with the main cleanermotor, lead it@ extending to one terminal o the armature 92a while thelead teil, after passing through the ual control switch H2, connectsdirectly to the freeler-operated switch 98. More specically, lead iutconnects directly to the central stationary contacts lilic and iota/thecontacts iilib m ltltb being connected directly to opposite sides of themotor ield winding @2b. Contacts lililb and Selb connect to oppositesides of motor held @2b and to the same sides thereof as contacto itchand llico, respectively. Of the two reiuainhng contacts iililc andlilla, lola connects directly to the armature 92o by the lead 25.iontect leila is connected directly, by the leed tail, to the stationaryarcuate contact ring IM .ci the' switch ii, the movable contact illi ofwhich is connected to the leed i, and so directly to the contact icio,by the lead lt.

Movable contact liti of switch H is mounted upon the shaft il@ or earnet, as is best shown in Figure 16, and is connected thereto by theshaft-carried pin ii which seats in a circumerentially extending sloti2@ of limited extent in the contact. e torsion spring ill on the shaft@il abuts and crees the contact iid in a. counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Figure 16. A raised portion is provided on the collector` ringtitl at its end, as indicated at HB, and an insulation section it@ lspositioned between that portion and the stop lli. The purpose oi theraised portion iid and the spring ill is to give e snapto the shaft -ior" cani uit by suitable reduction operation to the switch and this isnow explained.

It it be assumed that the movable contact H is upon the ring ||I andagainst the raised portion I I in particular, counterclockwlse movementv of the shaft -89 under the operation of the motor 92 will eil'ect nomovement of the contact ||6 until the pin ||9 has abutted the end ofslot |20 and has forced the contact over the raised portion ||0. Thespring ||1 will then move contact H6 with a snap action from contact ||4and over insulation |22 and against stop |2l. Current is thusinterrupted with a quick break. The closing action will result from thecontact `oipin ||9 with the opposite side of slot |20 and the resultantcontact movement uponv continued shaft movement. v,This will not be asnap action but this is not necessary on the circuit-closing stroke.

The operation of this lastA embodiment 'of the invention is as follows:vThe relationship illustrated in the Figures 13, and 1.7 o1'the'pdravwings is that in whichthe cleaner nozzle and agitator arepositioned attheir greatest heightl above the surface covering orsupporting surface.; The

cam 90 has' been so rotated that the supporting coil springs 22haverlifted the forward end of the body toits maximum height.Thesurfaoecontacting feeler VI0 is pivoted `downwardly toits lowennostposition andthe lever 96 vthereofvhas moved ,theswitchflever arm 91toits rrighthand position andtthe'actuator 10| `of thefswitch 98 hasbeen moved thereby to the positionv illustratedwin Figure l5. Themovablej contacts |02 and |03'are positioned as shown in Figures '15 and17 and the motor 92 is operated.r

The circuit vof the height adjusting motor is as follows: Thecurrent-carrying lead |08 connects to the armature 92a on one side, theother side thereof being connected through the leads |25 and iZ to themovable Contact H6 of switch 'i i5. The circuit then includes thestationary contact Hd, the leadl23, stationary contact |04 and movablecontact |02 to the field 92h. The opposite side of the iield isconnectedto stationary contact |06b which is connected by the movablecontact |03 to contact |06a and the incoming currentcarrymEiead |09.Current thus iiows through the height-adjusting motor and causes therotation of the height adjusting cam 90. As it rotates it forces thebody downwardly by exerting a force against the overlying shoulder 9| ofthe chassis l. This downward movement continuesuntil, if the cleaner ispositioned upon a bare iioor, the movable contact H6 of the switch H5moves od the end of the contact ring l le by the continued rotation ofthe cam shaft 89, the separation of consects ne and als beingaccomplished by a snap action because of the presence of the spring H1.Ihe opening of the adjusting motor circuit by the switch ||5 occurswhen' the nozzle has been lowered into cleaning relationship to a barefloor. However, .if the cleaner were positioned upon a surface coveringthe lowering would have'stopped when the feeler member 00 contacted thatcovering and was pivoted upwardly thereby to its optimum position. Inmoving, to that position the lever ann 90 would have Apivoted sumcientlyto move the lever arm 01 and actuator |0| would have caused movablecontact |02 to move into contact with stationary contact |05. 'lloccircuit of the motor iield 02h would therelipon have been opened,movable contacts |02 and w3 being seated upon contacts |05 and E00 whichare short circuited at 105e Mita.

If, because oi the weight of the rug. or because oi excessive suction inthe cleaner, the carpet is raised too high or extends too far into thenozzle mouth and too close to the agitator, the Afeeler 48 will bepivoted above its optimum position. This will result in further movementof the actuator 5 0| to the loft as viewed in Figure 15 and the movablecon'tact |03 will be moved with a snap' action from contact |06 tocontact |01. Current through the motor field 92h will then ow in theopposite direction. In the iirst instance, with the contacts 02 and |03positioned as illustrated in Figure 17 current could enter from lead|09, pass through contact |06 and movable contact |03 to the right sideof field 92h and thence in the direction to the left and to movablecontact |02 and i5 thence to the switch H5.A In this last relationship,however, in which movable contact |03 seats upon stationary contact |01and movable contact |02 is seated upon stationary contact |05, the lead|09 will Abe connected to the movable contact |02 -20 throughthelefthand side of the eld and current will move to the righttherethrough.

Variations in the position of the surface covering undergoing cleaningrelative to the nozzle in this last embodiment of the invention, as inthe preceding embodiments, eifect variations in the angular position ofthe feeler element 48. This change in position effects change in theposition of contacts |02 and |03 of switch 98 which in turn causes themotor 92 to rotate in one direction or the other to raise or lower thenozzle. The functional result is substantially the equivalent of thefirst two embodiments but. is accomplished by electrical means ratherthan by suction.

We claim: 1. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a body havingsuction-creating means and a nozzle communicating with saidsuction-creating means,

with respect to the floor covering being cleaned, and means including aprime-mover actuated by said suction-creating means and operative tosupsurface of said floor covering, air-conducting means connecting saidprime-mover to said suction-creating means and controlling means forsaid prime-mover including a noor contacting element responsive tovariations in the position of the floor covering relative to saidnozzle.

face of the door-covering being cleaned, and

means including surface-contacting means movable relative to said nozzleand responsive to variations in the position of the iioor coveringrelative to said nozzle for regulating the eiective suction actuatingsaid prime-mover.

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing includingsuction-creating means and having a nozzle at its forward end,supporting wheels rat the front and rear ends of said casing, said 7ofront wheels being mounted for limited vertical adjustment relative tosaid casing, a pressureresponsive element mounted on said casing andhaving operative connection with said adjustable front wheels,air-conducting means connecting rg said element to said suction-creatingmeans, said pressure-responsive element operating to maintain saidnozzle normally in a predetermined relationship to a surface coveringundergoing cleaning, and means for controlling the effective suctionacting on said pressure-responsive element comprising a valve connectingthe same with the atmosphere and having a lever adapted to contact thefloor covering and to shift with changes in the position thereofrelative to said nozzle, whereby said valve acts to relieve the suctionin said pressure-responsive element and allows said nozzle to beadjusted accordingly.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing including.suction-creating means and having a nozzle at its forward end, front andrear wheels supporting said casing, a frame carrying the wheels andhaving pivotal mounting on said casing, a bellows member mounted on saidcasing and operatively connected with said wheel supporting frame,air-conducting means connecting said bellows to said suction-creatingmeans said bellows being responsive to the suction created by saidsuction-creating means to maintain said nozzle normally in contact withthe surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means for varying theeective suction acting on said suction-responsive element, comprising avalve leading from said bellows member to the atmosphere and having alever adapted to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning andshiftablewith variations in the position of the covering below thenozzle relative thereto to position the nozzle for effective cleaningaction thereon.

5.. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing includingsuction-creating means and having a nozzle at its forward end,supporting wheels at the front and rear ends of said casing, a framepivotally mounted on said casing and carrying said wheels, apressure-responsive element mounted on said casing and having operativeconnection with said wheel carrying frame, said pressure-responsiveelement communicating with said suction-creating means and subject tothe suction thereof to maintain said nozzle i at a predetermined heightabove the iloor surface, tension means acting to prevent the lowering ofsaid nozzle toward the floor surface, and means for controlling theeffective suction acting onl said pressure-responsive element comprisinga valve leading from said element to the atmosphere, and a leveroperatively connected with said valve and shiftable in contact with thefloor covering to permit atmospheric pressure to relieve the suction andallow saidv spring to effect the adiustment of said nozzle to theposition of the iioor covering being cleaned.

-6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing includinga nozzleand suction-creating means communicating with said nozzle, a wheeledframe supporting said casing having pivotal connection therewith wherebysaid casing may be tilted to raise or lower said nozzle, a spring actingto maintain said casing normally in a position of maximum nozzle height,a bellows mounted on said casing and operatively connected with saidwheeled frame, said bellows being connected with said suction-creatingmeans and normally capable of overcoming the tension of said spring, avalve connecting said bellows with the atmosphere and having aspring-pressed lever adapted to-contact the? oor covering and operativeto relieve the suction in said bellows to effect the adjustment of saidnozzle under spring pressure into optimum relationship with the coveringbeing cleaned.

'7. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing including a nozzleand suction-creating means communicating with said nozzle, a wheeledframe supporting said casing and having pivotal connection therewithwhereby said casing may be tilted to raise or lower said nozzle, acompression spring acting to elevate said casing to a position ofmaximum nozzle height, a bellows mounted on said casing and including amovable member operatively connected with said wheeled frame, saidbellows communicating with said suction-creating means upon both sidesof said movable member, a valve opening from said bellows on one side ofsaid movable member to the atmosphere and having a spring-pressedhoor-covering-contacting lever acting to open said valve with a floorcovering undergoing cleaning displaced below its optimum positionrelative to said nozzle whereby the force of suction acting on one sideof said movable bellows member vis relieved to enable the pressure onthe opposite side thereof to effect the lowering of said nozzle againstspring pressure to a height correct for the particular oor coveringbeing cleaned.

8. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle including a surface contacting mouth,suction creating means connected to said mouth, height-adjusting meansto raise and lower said mouth relative to a surface undergoing cleaning,an air motor connected to said height-adiusting means to actuate sameand including two -chambers, a movable piston in said motor separatingsaid chambers, conduits connecting said chambers to saidsuction-creating means, valve means connecting one of said chambers toatmosphere, and a surface-contacting feeler at saidmouth inovable withclranges in height relative thereto of a surface covering undergoingcleaning connected to said valve to control the iiow of atmospheric airinto one of said chambers and so to control thepressure differentialexisting across said piston. Y

9:. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle including a surface-contacting nozzlemouth, suction-creating"means connected to said mouth, asurfacecontacting feeler movable with said mouth and adapted to bedisplaced relative thereto by contact with a surface covering,ambulatory supporting means, means pivotally mounting said nozzle onsaid supporting means for vertical movement relative to a surfacecovering undergoing zcleaning, means to raise and lower said nozzlerelative to said supporting means, means including an air motorconnected to said suction-creating means to actuate said last-mentionedmeans, and means operated by said feeler to control said air motor.

10. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having a mouth adapted to contact asurface covering undergoing cleaning, means movably supporting saidnozzle for movement over said covering means including a prime mover toraise and lower said nozzle mouth relative to said supporting means andto a supporting surface, and control means for said prime moverincluding surfacecontacting means positioned at said nozzle to gauge theposition of a surface covering undergoing cleaning relative to saidmouth to energize said prime mover with said surface covering positionedin other than a predetermined optimum relationship to said mouth.

il. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having a 8 mouth adapted to contact asurface covering undergoing cleaning, means movably `supporting saidnozzle for movement over said covering, means including a prime mover toraise and lower said nozzle mouth relative to said supporting means andtoa supporting surface, and con-a trol means to control the movement ofsaid prime mover including a surfacecovering-positioned gauge in saidmouth adapted to be raised or low ered relative thereto by that portionofa suri'ace covering undergoing cleaning positioned immediately belowsaid nozzle.

12. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having a mouth adapted to contact asurface covering undergoing cleaning, means movably supporting saidnozzle for movement over said covering, means including a prime mover toraise and lower said nozzle mouth relative to said supporting means andto a supporting surface, control means including means to eect movement'of said prime mover in either of two directions or to i'ix said primemover stationary, said control means also including a covering-feelermovably mounted relative to said nozzle and springbiased intocovering-contacting position with that portion of the surface coveringcontacted by the nozzle and lifted thereby, said ieeler directlydetermining the position of a surface covering undergoing cleaningrelative to said nozzle mouth and by its own position determining theopera-n tion of said control means.

13. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle including a mouth,suction-creating means con nested to said mouth, an agitator in saidnozzle adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning at saidmouth, means to drive said agitator, a movable feeler at said nozzle tocontact that portion oi a surface covering undergoing cleaningpositioned immediately below and adapted to be lifted by the suction ofsaid nozzle said feeler being mounted for movement upon variations inthe vertical relationship of said nozzle mouth and agitator relativethereto, means to raise and lower said nozzle mouth and agitator, andmeans controlled by said feeler to actuate said last-mentioned meansupon movement of said feeler. f

la. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a suction nozzleconnected to said means, a movable feeler in the mouth of said nozzleadapted to contact an underlying surface covenirrg undergoing cleaning,and movable therewith upon variations in the vertical position thereofrelative to said nozzle mouth, means to raise and lower said nozzle, andan air motor internally connected to said suction-creating means andoperatively connected to said last-mentioned means to actuate same andcontrolled by said feeler.

15. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having a'. mouth, suction-creatingmeans connected to said nozzle and adapted to create a reduced pressuretherein to eect the lifting of an underlying surface covering undergoingcleaning upwardly into contact with said mouth, a' covering-contactingfeeler in said nozzle mouth to determine the position of said coveringrelative thereto, means to raise and lower said nozzle mouth, an airmotor connected to said suction-creating means to actuate saidlast-mentioned means, and means connecting said feeler to said motor tocontrol the operation thereof upon feeler movement.

16. in a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a verticallydisplaceabie surface-contacting sub-nozzle within said nozzle,suction-creat= 'accesar ing means connected to said sub-nozzle, feelermeans displaceable relative to said sub-nozzle and positioned as tocontact that portion of a surface covering undergoing cleaningpositioned below said sub-nozzle, means to raise and lower saidsub-nozzle, and means controlled by said feeler I means to actuate saidlast-mentioned means.

lll

Fill

1'7. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a verticallydisplaceable surface-contacting sub-nozzle within said nozzle, anagitator carried by said sub-nozzle, suction-creating means connected tosaid sub-nozzle, feeler means extended adjacent said agitator anddisplaceable relative thereto by that portion of the surface coveringundergoing cleaning which is positioned under and adapted to be liftedby the suction in said sub-nozzle. means to raise and lower saidsub-nozzle relative to said body, and means controlled by said feelermeans to actuate said lastmentioned means.

i8. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a verticallydisplaceable suifacacontacting sub-nozzle within saictnczzle,suction=creating means connected to said sub-nozzle, realer meanspositioned as to be displaceable relative to said sub-nozzle by contactwith that portion of a surface covering undergoing cleaning positionedunder and adapted to be lifted by the suction in said sub-nozzle, meansincluding a motor inside said body having relatively movable parts con#nested to said body and to said sub-nozzle to move the lattervertically, and means controlled by said feeler means to control theoperation oi said motor.

19. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a verticallydisplaceable surface-contacting sub-nozzle within said nozzle,suction-creating means connected to said sub-nozzle, feeler meansdisplaceable relative thereto by contact with a surface coveringundergoing cleaning, means including an air motor carried by saidsub-nozzle inside said body and having relatively movable parts certainof which are connected to said body to move said sub-nozzle relativelyto V said body, said air motor being connected internally to saidsuction-creating means, and means controlled by said eeler means tocontrol the operation of said motor,

2d. In a suction cleaner, a vertically displace able surface-contactingelement, a feeler vertically movable with said element and movabledetermine the contact relationship of a surface undergoing cleaning withsaid element, suction-creating means including a fan chamber having aneye and a cut-oil, means to raise and lower said surface-contactingelement, an air motor to actuate said last-mentioned means connectingsaid air motor or" said fan chamber adjacent the eye thereof and at apoint tangent to said eye and between said eye and said cut-ofi, andfeeleroperated means controlling said motor.

2l. in a suction cleaner, a surfacecontactible element verticallyadjustable above and below an optimum position with respect to a surfacecovering undergoing cleaning, a gauge positioned to gauge the height or"that portion of the surface covering contacted by said element andvertically displaceable with said element and movable relative theretobetween limits and upon both sides of an optimum position it assumeswhenI the eiement is in its optimum position, means to :raise 22. In asuction cleaner, a surface cleaning means, ambulatory means movabiysupporting said cleaning means, adjustable means mounting said cleaningmeans on said ambulatory means for vertical movement relative to theplane of a surface covering undergoing cleaning and including anelectric motor, switch means to control said motor, a gauge adjacent,vertically movable with, and movable relative to said cleaning means todetermine directly the position of a surface covering undergoingcleaning relative to said cleaning means under a torce received fromthat portion of a surface covering undergoing cleaning positionedimmediately opposite said cleaning means, said gauge being movable undersaid force above and below an optimum position, and means connectingsaid gauge to said switch to position the latter in accordance with theposition of said gauge. f

23. The construction recited by the preceding 20 claim characterized inthat a second switch is provided to control said motor and includingrelatively movable parts, and means to actuate said parts to open saidswitch to stop said motor upon said cleaninl means tion as in thecleaning of bare noon.

reachingalowermostpod- 25.

24. In a suction cleaner. a body, an agitator carried by said bodyadapted to make contact with a surface covering undergoing cleaning.means to actuate said agitator, a movable feeler adjacent said agitatorto contact that portion of a surface covering undergoing cleaningpositioned below said agitator, said feeler being mounted for movementupon variations in the vertical relationship of said agitator relativeto said covering, means to raise and lower` said agitator, and meanscontrolled by said feeler to actuate said lastmentioned means uponmovement of said feeler.

25. In a suction cleaner, a body, an agitator carried by said bodyadapted to make contact with a surface covering undergoing cleaning.means to actuate said agitator, a movable feeler adjacent said agitatorto contact that portion of a surface covering undergoing cleaningpositioned below said agitator, said feeler being mounted for movementupon variations in the vertical relationship of said agitator relativeto said covering, a reversible electric motor to raise and lower saidagitator. and means actuated by said feeler to control said motor.

n D.SELLERS. ALFREDG.GROB8.

